To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

148 Division of Archives and History
William A. Graham to William A. Graham, Jr. a&h
Hillsboro',
October 22nd., 1870.
Your Mother reached home on Tuesday morning. John, Rob't Sc I went to
Person Court on Monday morning, Sc returned Wednesday night, and went
next morning to the Fair at Raleigh, where I delivered my address, 1 as you
will see from the papers, on Friday. Mr. C. Phillips made his on Thursday,2
just after my arrival on the Fair ground. The attendance was large
—
especially of young people, not many prosperous Farmers. Many Horses,
but too much prominence given to racing in sulkies—a good deal of
poultry, cattle Sc hogs not much, and the sheep so inferior, that no premium
was allowed on that stock. I will send you a copy of my address, when
printed. Laws3 tells me the Standard praises it—a somewhat bad sign.
I have a letter from Charlotte, requesting that I shall speak at the
Mecklenburg Fair, 1st. Dec'r, but shall not be able to comply.
The death of Judge Gilliam, 4 I very deeply regret. He was one of my truest
and best friends. Jos. J. Davis5 ought to be his successor in Congress, and I
hope will be, unless the men who have disabilities removed make the test on
that, exclude him.
George Sc Rob't came from Raleigh this afternoon—I have been so much
from home, that I have made no disposition yet of the Estes place for next
year
—
[torn]
'Graham's address on Thomas Ruffin, delivered on October 21, 1870, was printed in
various newspapers at the time and in a large pamphlet edition later. It can be found in
J. G. de Roulhac Hamilton (ed.), The Papers of Thomas Ruffin (Raleigh: North Carolina
Historical Commission, 4 volumes, 1918-1920), I, 18-35, hereinafter cited as Hamilton,
Ruffin Papers.
2The address of Charles Phillips was delivered before the North Carolina Agricultural
Society on October 20, 1870. It contained a tribute to David L. Swain, and its general
subject was the necessary relationship between the arm and the brain.
3George Laws.
4Robert B. Gilliam.
5Joseph Jonathan Davis (1828-1892), of Franklin County, attended Wake Forest and
William and Mary colleges and graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1850,
having studied law under Judge William Horn Battle. He practiced law in Oxford before
settling permanently at Louisburg. During the Civil War Davis was a captain in the Forty-seventh
North Carolina Regiment. Captured at Gettysburg, he was imprisoned at Fort
Delaware and Johnson's Island. At the latter place he established a law school among the
prisoners so their time might pass profitably. He was a state legislator, 1868-1870; a
Democratic congressman, 1875-1881; and a respected associate justice of the North Carolina
Supreme Court, 1887-1892. Biographical Directory of Congress, 786; Cyclopedia of
American Biography, VII, 484-485; Grant, Alumni History, 155.

148 Division of Archives and History
William A. Graham to William A. Graham, Jr. a&h
Hillsboro',
October 22nd., 1870.
Your Mother reached home on Tuesday morning. John, Rob't Sc I went to
Person Court on Monday morning, Sc returned Wednesday night, and went
next morning to the Fair at Raleigh, where I delivered my address, 1 as you
will see from the papers, on Friday. Mr. C. Phillips made his on Thursday,2
just after my arrival on the Fair ground. The attendance was large
—
especially of young people, not many prosperous Farmers. Many Horses,
but too much prominence given to racing in sulkies—a good deal of
poultry, cattle Sc hogs not much, and the sheep so inferior, that no premium
was allowed on that stock. I will send you a copy of my address, when
printed. Laws3 tells me the Standard praises it—a somewhat bad sign.
I have a letter from Charlotte, requesting that I shall speak at the
Mecklenburg Fair, 1st. Dec'r, but shall not be able to comply.
The death of Judge Gilliam, 4 I very deeply regret. He was one of my truest
and best friends. Jos. J. Davis5 ought to be his successor in Congress, and I
hope will be, unless the men who have disabilities removed make the test on
that, exclude him.
George Sc Rob't came from Raleigh this afternoon—I have been so much
from home, that I have made no disposition yet of the Estes place for next
year
—
[torn]
'Graham's address on Thomas Ruffin, delivered on October 21, 1870, was printed in
various newspapers at the time and in a large pamphlet edition later. It can be found in
J. G. de Roulhac Hamilton (ed.), The Papers of Thomas Ruffin (Raleigh: North Carolina
Historical Commission, 4 volumes, 1918-1920), I, 18-35, hereinafter cited as Hamilton,
Ruffin Papers.
2The address of Charles Phillips was delivered before the North Carolina Agricultural
Society on October 20, 1870. It contained a tribute to David L. Swain, and its general
subject was the necessary relationship between the arm and the brain.
3George Laws.
4Robert B. Gilliam.
5Joseph Jonathan Davis (1828-1892), of Franklin County, attended Wake Forest and
William and Mary colleges and graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1850,
having studied law under Judge William Horn Battle. He practiced law in Oxford before
settling permanently at Louisburg. During the Civil War Davis was a captain in the Forty-seventh
North Carolina Regiment. Captured at Gettysburg, he was imprisoned at Fort
Delaware and Johnson's Island. At the latter place he established a law school among the
prisoners so their time might pass profitably. He was a state legislator, 1868-1870; a
Democratic congressman, 1875-1881; and a respected associate justice of the North Carolina
Supreme Court, 1887-1892. Biographical Directory of Congress, 786; Cyclopedia of
American Biography, VII, 484-485; Grant, Alumni History, 155.